Police in Aceh have pledged they are tightening security for foreign nationals working in the province in response to two recent attacks by unidentified gunmen targeting foreigners.
On Monday night, the residence of European Union representative John Penny in Darul Imarah district, Aceh Besar regency, was shot at by gunmen.
The attack shattered the house' windows but no injuries were reported, as Penny and his wife were resting in their bedroom at time of the incident.
Earlier this month, on Nov. 5, two gunmen seriously wounded Bernhard Bauer, a representative of the German Red Cross for Aceh, when they shot at his car in Banda Aceh.
Fortunately, Bauer survived the gunshot wounds after receiving hospital care in Singapore.
"For a long time now, the police have actually being monitoring and providing security for foreign citizens. From when they arrive in Aceh, intelligence officers keep them under surveillance," Aceh Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Farid Ahmad said Wednesday in Banda Aceh.
However, the security given to foreigners in Aceh was usually covert in nature.
"The security system is not like a normal one, as foreigners generally have their own firm rules on the presence of armed people around them, including police officers," Farid said.
Under specific rules, foreign nationals and NGO activists in Aceh were not allowed to have guns in their operational cars or at their offices
Stickers bearing the picture of a crossed-out gun could be seen on their cars and offices, he said.
"Maybe they feel uncomfortable having armed security personnel around them," Farid added.
He said the police were hunting the gunmen who had targeted the two foreigners, but were still in the dark about the motive behind the attacks.
"We are investigating the shooting incidents and continuing the search for suspects" Farid said he believed the recent attacks were intended to shatter the peace and security in Aceh that had developed in the province following a peace accord between separatist rebels and the government in 2005.
A spokesman for the Aceh Transitional Commission (KPA), Kamarudin, better known as Abu Radak, urged the police to find out the identity of the gunmen quickly.
"It should be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators captured to avoid any trading of blame among Acehnese communities," he said, but refrained from naming any group as responsible for the attacks.
"Of course, we know it is the deed of those who don't want to see Aceh remain peaceful," he said.
He was concerned that the unexplained attacks could create a feeling of insecurity for both foreigners and local residents.
"I am worried that foreigners will leave Aceh, while we still need them *to help rebuild the province* after the 2004 tsunami," Kamarudin said.
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